Wind gusts and dropping temperatures caused some flare-ups Thursday evening as crews work around the clock to contain the massive Hawthorne Fire.
Thursday marked the fourth day of efforts. Officials are urging hikers to stay away and not put drones in the air at Lamentation Mountain in Berlin.
Officials said they got a report that hikers went up on the mountain. When or if that happens, crews have to stop what they're doing and can't continue to drop water on the fire.
During the evening hours, a couple of drones and planes impacted water drop operations. Each time aerial operations are halted, it takes at least 30 to 45 minutes to get planes back in the air.
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Fire Chief Jonn Massirio said crews probably could have made better progress without the disruptions.
"Thankfully, the incursions didn't contribute to the growth of the fire," Massirio said.
The fire is holding at approximately 107 acres. Officials said that it could take a month to get the fire fully under control.
As firefighters dig a perimeter around the fire by hand to box it in, other crews are battling the fire from the air.
The Connecticut National Guard responded with two National Guard airships that dumped water on Wednesday and a third helicopter was brought in Thursday.
Over 127,000 gallons of water has already been dropped on the fire.
Today, the Connecticut Army National Guard responded to Berlin, CT in the vicinity of Lamentation Mountain to help suppress actively burning brush fires. One UH-60 Blackhawk, one CH-47 Chinook, and 14 aircrew members dumped thousands of gallons of water onto the fires. pic.twitter.com/b8O3fdjVA3
— Connecticut National Guard (@CTNationalGuard) October 23, 2024
During a news conference on Thursday, crews said they are working to map a containment zone.
An aerial forestry unit from Maine is also providing resources to fight the fire from the air. Crews from neighboring states have also sent firefighters.
The fire has spread mainly to the north and south along the ridgelines behind Sea Green Drive and the south edge has extended into Meriden, according to the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department.
Residents in the area have called in concerns about the proximity of the fire to their homes. Fire officials said they've put protections in place, such as sprinklers, to prevent the spread of the fire.
Fire officials said there are contingencies in place that include trigger points, which are geographic locations that create boundaries. When the fire reaches those points, that will dictate if and when there will be evacuation orders.
Authorities said they are confident that the protections put in place will be enough to keep residents safe.
Photos: Crews battle massive Hawthorne Fire
Crews are focusing their efforts on the north and south end of the fire.
Officials from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection forest protection are urging people to stay away from the area and said ATVs and UTVs should not be entering the area.
“ATVs and UTVs should not be entering the area. It’s causing danger and if those items do enter the area, such as the aerial aspect, we do have to ground out helicopters,” Forest Protection Supervisor Thomas Trask said.
The right lane of the north side of the Berlin Turnpike will remain closed in the area of Tollgate Road to allow fire crews access in and out of the Lamentation Mountain area. Police are asking drivers to refrain from stopping their vehicles on the road in this area as well.
Around 40 municipal firefighters and 30 wildland firefighters are working to put the fire out and officials are trying to get more help to relieve the crews who have been working since Monday night to get the fire under control.
“Rest is huge. You know, you can, you can work and work and work, and not realize that you'll get drained out real fast up there with these dry conditions,” Massirio said. “Your, your body moisture content, goes down real fast. You get dehydrated, you know, not even talking to the to the dangerous terrain. That's a whole other animal in itself.”
Firefighter dies while battling blaze
Wethersfield Volunteer Firefighter Robert Sharkevich Sr., 66, died on Tuesday after a utility task vehicle carrying four firefighters rolled over on a trail while working to contain the massive brush fire on Lamentation Mountain, which is now known as the Hawthorne fire.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that he died of a blunt impact injury to the head and neck, and his death was ruled an accident.
“Firefighter Robert Sharkevich’s dedication to the safety of our community is nothing less than heroic,” Gov. Ned Lamont said on social media.
Three other firefighters were taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries that are not life-threatening and they have been released.
“We are truly heartbroken at the tragic passing of Wethersfield Firefighter, Robert E. Sharkevich Sr. His dedication and bravery will always be remembered. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and the Wethersfield Fire Department," Wethersfield Mayor Ken Lesser said in a statement.
Sharkevich, who was known as Sharkey, was also a retired Hartford firefighter, according to police.
"Whether retired or active, every firefighter is a vital part of our brotherhood, and their loss is felt profoundly by all," the Hartford Fire Department said in a statement. "The legacy of Firefighter Sharkevich will continue to inspire us and remind us of the bravery and commitment that define our profession."
The governor has directed flags in Connecticut to fly at half-staff in honor of Sharkevich. All U.S. and state flags will remain lowered until sunset on the date of interment.
Services for Sharkevich will be held on Sunday and Monday.
Calling hours are set for Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home in Wethersfield and a funeral is planned for Monday at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Joseph’s in Hartford.
All Wethersfield public schools will be closed Monday for Sharkevich's funeral service.
The Meriden Police Department is leading the investigation.
Impact on residents
The fire has not damaged any homes and no evacuation or shelter-in-place orders have been issued.
Officials said on Thursday morning that homes are well protected and a team is dedicated to structure protection.
They also said there are no air quality concerns. Some residents might notice smoke and people with health conditions should close their windows.
Residents might also see crews in their neighborhoods checking on the air quality as a precaution.
An emergency alert went out on Thursday morning telling people to avoid Lamentation Mountain in Berlin and the surrounding wooded areas until 6 p.m.
Residents living on Silver Lake are being asked to stay off the lake for the next few days until the fire is contained.
Fire crews are working to get water tankers to the top of the mountain as a drop site. Property owners affected by this have been notified, according to officials.
People living in the area can sign up for emergency alerts through the towns of Berlin or Meriden or CT Alert. Learn more about CT Alert here.
Requesting financial assistance
Authorities have contacted the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through Region 1 to request a fire management assistance grant.
The grant would help recoup costs associated with Hawthorne fire efforts.
Fire officials said it's a very expensive operation that has already cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The request has not yet been approved.
Monitoring electrical impact
Eversource said it is closely monitoring electric transmission lines and equipment in the area and will be conducting aerial surveys on three of its high-voltage power lines around a mile and a half from where they believe the fire originated.
They said they have not identified issues with any electric equipment in the area and no associated power outages are reported.
“This large brush fire is in close proximity to our transmission lines, which are the backbone of the regional electric grid, and with winds expected to pick up, we’re not taking any chances,” Eversource president of electric operations in Connecticut Steve Sullivan said. “We have plans in place to quickly redirect power to other lines to minimize any disruption to our customers and we’re maintaining close communication with the Governor’s office, DEEP and local partners at Berlin fire and police regarding the fire and any potential impact it could have on the electric system. Our team on the ground is also ready to assist emergency responders in any way we can.”
Closures
The fire on Lamentation Mountain led to the closure of Lamentation Mountain State Park and Giuffrida Park in Meriden.
An alert went out to hikers in the area to stay away from the fire, particularly because of the amount of water being dropped to contain the blaze.
The Middletown Police Department said the city is closely monitoring the fire. Residents and commuters in the Westfield part of town by the Berlin/Meriden town line are being asked to avoid the area so that emergency crews can respond if needed.
Middletown residents are being encouraged to sign up for State of Connecticut and City of Middletown emergency notifications.
The Silver Lake boat launch remains closed and people are asked to stay away so as not to hinder firefighting efforts.
The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation.
Flight restrictions
Flight restrictions are in place.
Crews are warning people not to fly their drones or personal aircraft over the area. Drones can pose a danger to aerial efforts to put out the fire.
Authorities said the use of drones has inhibited crews' efforts. They're trying to track drones being used through police resources.
"Any pilot should know those rules and abide by those restrictions," Massirio said. "If we do find who is doing it, they will have a visit by police and they will have appropriate actions [taken]."
Officials said the flight restriction area will be expanded on Friday.
Support from the community
Officials leading the firefighting efforts said they have been inundated with support from businesses and restaurants who have donated food.
Many donations could feed large groups of people. Officials said they are grateful and it helps morale, but asked for donors to reduce the meal sizes to food that could feed 20 to 25 people rather than large groups.
